Nicholas Smolenski

Friday Festival Recap – August 09, 2013

Another happy Friday recap to everyone! If you didn’t see our announcement from earlier this week, be sure to check out our announced guest composer for 2014, Andrea Clearfield. We’re thrilled to have her join us in March for another series of programs celebrating the diversity of women’s music.

In honor of the guest composer announcement, this week’s photos are all of previous guests. It’s been an honor to host each and every one.

2011 guest composer Gilda Lyons gives a passionate performance of her work A Small Handful

2013 guest composer Hilary Tann receives a warm applause after her talk to Central Connecticut State University

2010 guest composers Cherise Leiter and Marie Incontrera smiling after a hugely successful choral concert

Friday Festival Recap – July 19, 2013

Allison Holst-Grubbe, soprano, accompanied by Michael Korman, performs songs by Amy Beach along with many other singers on the American Women in Song concert.

Alyssa Hoffert, soprano saxophone, Lauren Wasynczuk, alto saxophone, Benjamin Carraher, tenor saxophone, and Li-Chun Hsiao, baritone saxophone, give an excellent performance of Hilary Tann’s Some of the Silence at the Hartford Musical Club.

Mary Matthews and Melissa Wertheimer of The Dahlia Flute Duo give a stunning performance of the 2013 Competition winning work by Anna Rubin, Consulting the Oracle.

Friday Festival Recap – July 12, 2013

Another week, another recap! It’s almost too hard to decide which of the great performances and talks to re-live each time.

Mary Matthews, flute, David Cyzak, oboe, and Grace Smith, piano, perform Ingrid Stölzel‘s There Are Things To Be Said at the 2013 Concert Pro Femina.

Jessica Rudman presents research on pitch processes in the music of Ellen Taaffe Zwillich at the 2013 WCForum.

Sheri Brown performs Hilary Tann’s Windhover to much acclaim at the Local Composers Concert.

Friday Festival Recap – July 05 – 2013

Today’s recap takes a slightly different bent. With so much focus on our recent festival it seemed appropriate to take a step back. Here we have glimpses at Local Composers Concerts from years past. We’re proud of our tradition fostering regional music.

Kathryn Swanson-Ellis and Gale Gardiner chat after successful performances of their music at the 2010 festival.

Tawnie Olson introduces her work, À mon seul désir, during the 2011 Local Composers Concert.

Owen Weaver takes a much deserved bow after an incredible performance of Lisa Coon‘s Percussion Sculpture No. 1 at the 2012 festival.

Friday Festival Recap – June 28, 2013

Today’s Friday Festival Recap happens to coincide with Gilda Radner‘s birthday, the amazing comedienne whose career ended too soon. Here we have a few photos from some of the wonderful concerts during March 2013.

Susan Mardinly, soprano, accompanied by Michael Korman, joined the countless other singers who brought Amy Beach’s songs to life during the American Women in Song concert.

Colette Hall gave a rousing performance of Hilary Tann’s Like Lightnings during a full concert of saxophone repertoire.

Dr. Stephanie Lind presented on Betsy Jolas at the 2013 WCForum.